Dwarf coconuts (Cocos nucifera L. var.nana) are a genetically-distinct group of cultivars of the coconut palm that are characterized by slow stem growth, self-pollination, rounded (niu vai) fruits, earlier fruit-bearing, and shorter lifespans. They grow to a full height of 15 to 30 feet (4.6 to 9.1m), in contrast to "Tall" cultivars which can grow up to 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30m).
Dwarf coconuts were originally domesticated by the Austronesian peoples in Southeast Asia in ancient times. They are relatively genetically uniform and likely descended from a single domesticated population artificially-selected by early Austronesian farmers for specific traits. Along with other Pacific coconuts, they were carried as canoe plants throughout the maritime migrations of Austronesians in the Indo-Pacific. Numerous other Dwarf cultivars were also developed after they were introduced to other regions.
The niu leka ('Fiji Dwarf') cultivars of Polynesia are also sometimes classified as Dwarf coconuts due to similarities in habit. But they are genetically distinct and were independently domesticated, likely in Tonga.
Coconuts can be broadly divided into two general types based on habit: the "Tall" (var. typica) and "Dwarf" (var. nana) varieties. The two groups are genetically distinct, with the Dwarf variety showing a greater degree of artificial selection for ornamental traits and for early germination and fruiting. The Tall variety is outcrossing while Dwarf palms are self-pollinating, which has led to a much greater degree of genetic diversity within the Tall group. Dwarf cultivars are relatively rare, constituting only around 5% of the total coconut population in the world.
Dwarf coconuts are shorter than Tall coconuts. But despite the misleading use of the term "dwarf", they are still considerably tall once fully-grown. Dwarf coconuts grow to a full height of 15 to 30 feet (4.6 to 9.1m), in contrast to Tall cultivars which can grow up to 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30m). Dwarf coconuts usually have shorter fronds that do not grow longer than 4 metres (13ft). They also typically do not possess boles (the swelling at the base the coconut stem), with some exceptions like the 'Tacunan Green Dwarf'.
Dwarf coconuts bear fruits earlier, at around 3 to 4 years after planting, in contrast to Tall cultivars, which start bearing fruits at 8 to 10 years after planting. However, Dwarf coconuts have a shorter lifespan of 40 to 50 years, unlike Tall coconuts which can live for 80 to 90 years. Dwarf coconut fruits tend to be smaller and more numerous. They usually have bright green, yellow, or red coloration.
Origin
Malayan Green Dwarf
Salak Green Dwarf
Malayan Red Dwarf
Malayan Yellow Dwarf
Marshall Islands Green Dwarf
Gangabondam Green Dwarf
Raja Brown Dwarf
Tacunan Green Dwarf
Catigan Green Dwarf
Pilipog Green Dwarf
Aromatic Green Dwarf
Xiem Green Dwarf
Brazilian Green Dwarf
Thailand Green Dwarf
SoutheastAsian type
Chowghat Green Dwarf
Sri Lanka Green Dwarf
King Coconut
Cameroon Red Dwarf
Chowghat Orange Dwarf
Pemba Red Dwarf
Papua New Guinea Yellow Dwarf
Tahiti Red Dwarf
Mangipod Green Dwarf
Rabaul Red Dwarf
Nicaragua Green Dwarf
Vanuatu Red Dwarf
Gazelle Red
Talasea Red Tall
Pacific type
Phylogenetic tree of selected Dwarf coconut cultivars, per Perera et al. (2016)
Dwarf coconut cultivars are fully domesticated, unlike the more diverse Tall cultivars. Dwarf cultivars of Pacific coconuts haves been cultivated by Austronesian peoples since ancient times. They were selected for slower growth, sweeter coconut water, and often brightly colored fruits.
All Dwarf coconuts are a genetically uniform subgroup of the Pacific coconuts (native to the Central Indo-Pacific; differentiated from the Indo-Atlantic coconuts from southern India and Sri Lanka). The Dwarf variety was first domesticated in Southeast Asia, which contain the Tall cultivars genetically closest to Dwarf coconuts.
Dwarf coconuts share three genetic markers out of thirteen (rare in Tall cultivars), making it likely that they originate from a single domesticated population. Dwarf coconuts naturally cross with Tall cultivars, resulting in "intermediate" types called "semi-Talls", which are self-pollinating but fast-growing. Thus the Dwarf gene pool would not have remained stable without continuous artificial selection by early farmers to produce true-to-type offspring, which also points to a common domestication origin. Philippine and Malayan Dwarf coconuts diverged early into two distinct types. They usually remain genetically isolated when introduced to new regions. Along with other Pacific coconuts, they were carried as canoe plants throughout the maritime migrations of Austronesians in the Indo-Pacific. Numerous other Dwarf cultivars developed after such introductions, hybridizing with Tall cultivars.
Hybrids
Many inter-varietal hybrid coconuts are crosses of Dwarf and Tall varieties. They exhibit a mix of the characteristics of the two morphological varieties. They are also marked by hybrid vigor, being high-yielding while also resistant to diseases and environmental stressses. As such, they are preferred in plantations for copra and coconut oil production. However, this is limited by the practicality of producing F1 hybrid seeds on a large scale.
Dwarf and Tall hybrids are can use either a Tall female parent and a Dwarf male parent (T × D) or a Dwarf female parent and a Tall male parent (D × T). For example, the 'Kerasankara' hybrid (WCT × COD) is a cross between a 'West Coast Tall' (WCT) female parent and a 'Chowghat Orange Dwarf' (COD) male parent.
Dwarf coconuts have also been crossed with the niu leka coconuts, the first of which was a cross between a 'Malayan Red Dwarf' and a niu leka in Fiji in 1928.[citation needed]
The following are a list of Dwarf cultivars by country of origin, including international accepted abbreviations and specific regions they originate from, where applicable:
A niu leka cultivar in Pali o Waipio, Maui. The plant Musa can be visible in the background
The niu leka cultivars (NLAD) of Polynesia, also called 'Fiji Dwarf' or 'Compact Dwarf', are also sometimes classified as Dwarf coconuts due to similarities in habit. But they are genetically distinct and were independently domesticated, likely in Tonga. They differ from true Dwarf coconuts in that they are not self-pollinated. Other cultivars of niu leka may exist in other islands of the Pacific, and some are probably descendants of advanced crosses between niu leka and Southeast Asian Dwarf types.
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12345Rao, V. Ramanatha; Batugal, Pons; Jeffrey, Oliver (2005). Coconut Genetic Resources. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. ISBN9789290436294.
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